Giants Decline To Exercise $9.5 Million Option On Renteria

Edgar Renteria #16 of the San Francisco Giants hits a 3-run home run in the seventh inning against Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers in Game Five of the 2010 World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on November 1, 2010. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The champion San Francisco Giants declined to exercise their $9.5 million option on World Series MVP Edgar Renteria on Thursday, instead paying him a $500,000 buyout.

It’s no surprise because the 34-year-old Renteria is considering retirement after an injury-plagued season. Still, the Giants had to make the decision only three days after Renteria’s tiebreaking three-run homer off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning Monday night helped San Francisco win the franchise’s first title since moving West in 1958.

“He was obviously a big reason we won, not just the last game but the whole playoff run,” said Bobby Evans, the Giants’ vice president of baseball operations. “Edgar played a huge role, whether in the clubhouse, on the field, or his leadership and his professionalism and his ability to string together some very good games and big hits for us.”

The shortstop said Wednesday he will rest for a while before determining his future.

“It’s always hard to think about retiring,” Renteria said after the team’s victory parade. “I want to rest. Whew, I feel great.”

A five-time All-Star, Renteria batted .412 (7 for 17) with two homers and six RBIs in the Series. He had all of three home runs and 22 RBIs during an injury-filled regular season that included three stints on the disabled list.

At the end, he played through a torn biceps muscle. He rarely was pain-free this year when he was on the field.

Renteria’s trips to the disabled list were because of a strained right groin (May 6-22 and May 25-June 16) and a strained left biceps (Aug. 11-Sept. 1). His 72 games were the fewest of his 15-year big league career. In fact, he had never been below 106 games before.

Renteria might just decide to go out on top—often something players hope for when leaving the game. He is a career .287 hitter with 135 home runs and 887 RBIs for the Marlins, Cardinals, Red Sox, Braves, Tigers and Giants.

In 1997, his 11th-inning single led Florida past Cleveland for the title. Renteria made the final out for St. Louis in Boston’s 2004 World Series win.

“He’s a guy we’re glad we brought here. Despite the injuries this year, he still found a way and he stuck it out to contribute,” Evans said. “He fought through it. He’s a great baseball man and a consummate professional. A World Series MVP says it all.”

Let’s see, he got what, $8 million last season, and played how much? Yes, WS MVP he got deservingly (and hoped his agent worked out some extra incentives if he achieved certain goals). And if you owned the Giants, would you shell out $18,000,000 to an employee who excelled in the WS, but didn’t produce too much the whole year, and then says that he wants to rest before thinking about putting out for next season? Sad?- yes. Stupid?- no.

Understandable…’though not magnanimous. He played with a nagging injury and yet delivered well beyond hope or expectation. I’ve come to see him as a REAL “pro”…I would think he could remain in Baseball, whether in the U.S. or Colombia and I wish him the best in making a choice that keeps him and his family HAPPY.